Bull’s Blood is not an inviting name for a wine, but then I also think that Blood Soup does not sound enticing either.  This is a famous wine from Hungary from the vineyards that surround the town or village of Eger, hence Egri Bikaver.  Most wines from Hungary would list the town first and then the grape varietal next.  Bikaver translates to Bull’s Blood and that is how the wine is known, not only in Buda and Pest but the rest of the world as well.

It is a full bodied robust red wine with a deep color that is made from the Kadarka grape.  It pairs wonderfully with all the rich offerings of Hungarian foods and their great sauces.  I have enjoyed it with beef, veal, chicken and duck dishes that have been prepared with an Austro-Hungarian style or with a Romany style of cuisine.

As a blended wine from the assorted vineyards around Eger, and it is not necessary to remember  vintages.  All of the Egri Bikaver wines are offered through the government monopoly of Monimpex (at least during the Soviet years).  I should look at and try a bottle of it since the change in governments to see if there is any difference that I can discern.  The next time I get a strong yearning for Hungarian food.